[Dyac]

But presumably you're talking about a modern automatic car?

What about a manual car, where you need more understanding of the mechanics, and will stall or roll back on a hill if you don't? Or a manual car without synchromesh, where you have to double de-clutch to match the input and output shaft RPMs? Or a car without antilock brakes? Or without tire pressure sensors? Or automatic headlights? Or automatic wipers? Or lane assist? Or auto braking? Or cruise control? Or indicator blinkers that auto cancel? Or auto dimming headlights? Or warning messages that tell you about everything from seat belts to service warnings or blown bulbs?

All these are driver safety and convenience innovations that people take for granted so it is as simple as "press pedal car go vroom"...

Also, think about drones and model planes. With computer aided support they now have full autopilot, return to base, auto land etc. and can be operated by a kid! Why can't some of these types of support, safety and convenience make it over to light aircraft?

[bluGill]

Most of the time none of those are doing anything. Shifting a manual is a minority of time, non-synchromesh makes shifting harder but it doesn't add much time. Most of the time when you stop the anti-lock brakes don't kick in and so again you lose nothing. TMPS makes your care safer if you have a lot tire - but tires these days are good enough that they rarely go flat. Same with the others - they are rarely used - not useless but only small factors taken all together - I've driven without each from time to time.